File portfolio pocket with attachment hinge

ABSTRACT

A file portfolio includes a spine with attached front and back covers. A file pocket is provided for holding a plurality of documents. A hinge is attached to a bottom edge of the file pocket. The hinge flexibly joins the file pocket to the spine of the file portfolio.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A file portfolio includes a spine with attached front and back covers. A file pocket is provided for holding a plurality of documents. A hinge is attached to a bottom edge of the file pocket. The hinge flexibly joins the file pocket to the spine of the file portfolio.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a file portfolio that embodies the invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a file pocket that embodies the invention.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of the file pocket of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of another file pocket that embodies the invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the file pocket of FIG. 2 before final forming.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the file pocket of FIG. 4 before final forming.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a pictorial view of a file portfolio 10 that embodies the invention. The file portfolio 10 includes a spine 12 with attached front 14 and back 16 covers. File pockets 20 are provided for holding a plurality of documents. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 a hinge 70 is attached to a bottom edge 34 of each file pocket. The hinge 70 flexibly joins the file pocket 20 to the spine 12 of the file portfolio 10. The hinged connection of the file pockets 20 to the spine 12 of the file portfolio 10 may allow the file pockets to lay against either of the covers 14, 16 when the portfolio is open. The file pockets 20 may be movable somewhat like the pages of a book.

The file portfolio 10 is shown with plain covers 14, 16. It will be recognized that the covers can take any of a variety forms such as including a zippered closure or a flap on one cover that allows enclosing the file pockets by securing the flap to the other cover such as by means of an elastic loop and a post. Additional file pockets may be attached to the covers.

The file pocket 20 includes a front panel 30, a rear panel 40, two side panels 50, a bottom panel 60, and a hinge panel 70. The front panel 30 has opposing top 32 and bottom 34 edges and two opposing side edges 36. The rear panel 40 has opposing top 42 and bottom 44 edges and two opposing side edges 46. Each of the two side panels 50 has opposing top 52 and bottom 54 edges and two opposing side edges 56, 58. One of the side edges 58 of each side panel is joined to one of the side edges 36 of the front panel and the other of the side edges 56 is joined to one of the side edges 46 of the back panel.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the bottom panel 60 includes opposing front 62 and back 64 edges and two opposing side edges 66. The back edge 64 of the bottom panel 60 is joined to the bottom edge 44 of the back panel 40. The front edge 62 of the bottom panel 60 is joined to the bottom edge 34 of the front panel 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the front edge 62 of the bottom panel 60 is joined to the bottom edge 34 of the front panel 30 by the hinge panel 70.

The hinge panel 70 includes opposing front 72 and back 74 edges and two opposing side edges 76. The back edge 74 of the hinge panel 70 is flexibly joined to the bottom edge 34 of the front panel 30 and to the front edge 62 of the bottom panel 60. As seen in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the hinge panel may be folded such that a fold forms the front edge 72 of the hinge panel 70. The two layers that form the hinge panel 70 may be joined together, such as by welding which may also join the hinge panel to the spine 12 of the file portfolio 10. The back edge 74 of the hinge panel 70 may include the two adjacent edges 74 a, 74 b of the two layers formed by folding. When the hinge panel 70 is joined to the spine 12 of the file portfolio 10, the back edge 74 of the hinge panel functions as a hinge line about which the remainder of the file pocket can rotate relative to the spine of the file portfolio.

A folded configuration of the hinge panel 70, as seen in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, allows the file pocket 20 to be formed from a single sheet of material such as the sheet shown in FIG. 5. The front panel 30 is joined to the hinge panel 70 along a first fold 74 a. The bottom panel 60 is joined to the hinge panel 70 along a second fold 74 b. The hinge panel 70 is folded such that a third fold 72 forms the front edge of the hinge panel. The first 74 a and second 74 b folds are adjacent to one another to form the back edge 74 of the hinge panel 70. Two seam panels 80 may be provided on one of the side edges 56 of each of the two side panels 50 to join the side panel to one of the rear 40 or front 30 panels to which the side panel is not joined by a fold line. In the embodiment shown the seam panels 80 will be joined to the rear panel 40 to assemble the file pocket 20.

In the embodiments shown, each of the side panels 50 has a generally trapezoidal shape. The top edge 52 is substantially longer than the bottom edge 54. For example the top edge 52 may be four times as long as the bottom edge 54. In one embodiment, the top edge 52 may be one inch long and the bottom edge 54 may be one-quarter of an inch long. Each of the side panels 50 may be folded along a center line 59 such that the file pocket 20 is expandable.

The bottom panel 60 may be folded along a center line 69 such that the file pocket is expandable. The fold in the bottom panel 60 may also allow the file pocket 20 to be compressed in the area adjacent the hinge line 74 to facilitate rotation of the body of the file pocket 20 away from the hinge panel 70, a movement which tends to compress the bottom portion of the file pocket against the spine 12 of the file portfolio 10 to which the hinge panel is attached. I will be noted in FIG. 4 that the opposing side edges 66 of the bottom panel 60 may be set in and shaped to provide a relief clearance that receives the lower end of the side panels 50 as they fold inwardly along the fold line 59 when the file pocket 20 is compressed. (This feature is not shown in the pictorial figures to avoid obscuring other features.)

It will be appreciated that while the top edges 32, 42 of the front 30 and rear 40 panels have been shown as straight edges, they could be given any of a variety of shapes to further enhance the functions of the file pocket 20. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 for example, the top edge 142 of the rear panel 140 can be shaped to provide a tab portion 149, which may be used to identify the file pocket 120 within the file portfolio. A flap panel 190 may be joined to the rear panel 140 along the top edge 142 except at the tab portion 149. As shown in FIG. 4, the tab portion 149 may extend above the flap panel 190 when the flap panel is secured to the front panel 130 to close the file pocket 120.

The top edge 132 of the front panel 130 can be shaped to provide improved access to the contents of the file pocket 120. The flap panel 190 may include a tongue 192 that mates with a slot 139 in the front panel 130 to secure the flap to the front panel to close the file pocket 120.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. 

1. A file pocket comprising: a front panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges; a rear panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges; two side panels, each panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges, one of the side edges joined to one of the side edges of the front panel and the other of the side edges joined to one of the side edges of the back panel; a bottom panel having opposing front and back edges and two opposing side edges, the front edge joined to the bottom edge of the front panel and the back edge joined to the bottom edge of the back panel; and a hinge panel having opposing front and back edges and two opposing side edges, the back edge flexibly joined to the bottom edge of the front panel and the front edge of the bottom panel.
 2. The file pocket of claim 1 further comprising a flap panel joined to the top edge of the rear panel except at a tab portion of the rear panel such that the tab portion extends above the flap panel when the flap panel is secured to the front panel to close the file pocket.
 3. The file pocket of claim 2 wherein the flap panel includes a tongue and the front panel includes a slot, the tongue cooperative fitting into the slot to secure the flap panel to the front panel to close the file pocket.
 4. The file pocket of claim 1 wherein each of the side panels has a generally trapezoidal shape with the top edge being substantially longer than the bottom edge.
 5. The file pocket of claim 1 wherein each of the side panels is folded such that the file pocket is expandable.
 6. The file pocket of claim 1 wherein the bottom panel is folded such that the file pocket is expandable.
 7. The file pocket of claim 1 wherein the front panel, the hinge panel, the bottom panel, the back panel, and the two side panels are formed from a single sheet of material, the front panel joined to the hinge panel along a first fold, the bottom panel joined to the hinge panel along a second fold, the hinge panel being folded such that a third fold forms the front edge of the hinge panel, and the first and second folds are adjacent to one another to form the back edge of the hinge panel.
 8. A file portfolio comprising: a spine having opposing front and back edges; a front cover joined to the front edge of the spine; a back cover joined to the back edge of the spine; a file pocket including, a front panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges; a rear panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges; two side panels, each panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges, one of the side edges joined to one of the side edges of the front panel and the other of the side edges joined to one of the side edges of the back panel; a bottom panel having opposing front and back edges and two opposing side edges, the front edge joined to the bottom edge of the front panel and the back edge joined to the bottom edge of the back panel; and a hinge panel having opposing front and back edges and two opposing side edges, the back edge flexibly joined to the bottom edge of the front panel and the front edge of the bottom panel; wherein the hinge panel is joined to the spine between the front and back edges.
 9. The file portfolio of claim 8 wherein the file pocket further comprises a flap panel joined to the top edge of the rear panel except at a tab portion of the rear panel such that the tab portion extends above the flap panel when the flap panel is secured to the front panel to close the file pocket.
 10. The file portfolio of claim 9 wherein the flap panel of the file pocket includes a tongue and the front panel of the file pocket includes a slot, the tongue cooperative fitting into the slot to secure the flap panel to the front panel to close the file pocket.
 11. The file portfolio of claim 8 wherein each of the side panels of the file pocket has a generally trapezoidal shape with the top edge being substantially longer than the bottom edge.
 12. The file portfolio of claim 8 wherein each of the side panels of the file pocket is folded such that the file pocket is expandable.
 13. The file portfolio of claim 8 wherein the bottom panel of the file pocket is folded such that the file pocket is expandable.
 14. The file portfolio of claim 8 wherein the front panel, the hinge panel, the bottom panel, the back panel, and the two side panels of the file pocket are formed from a single sheet of material, the front panel joined to the hinge panel along a first fold, the bottom panel joined to the hinge panel along a second fold, the hinge panel being folded such that a third fold forms the front edge of the hinge panel, and the first and second folds are adjacent to one another to form the back edge of the hinge panel.
 15. A file portfolio comprising: a spine having opposing front and back edges; cover means joined to the spine for closing the portfolio; file pocket means for holding a plurality of documents, the file pocket means including, hinge means for flexibly joining the file pocket means to the spine along a bottom edge of the file pocket means.
 16. The file portfolio of claim 15 wherein the file pocket means further comprises flap means for closing the file pocket means, and tab means for identifying the file pocket means when the flap means is closed.
 17. The file pocket portfolio of claim 16 wherein the flap means includes a tongue means and the front panel includes a slot means, the tongue and slot means securing the flap panel to close the file pocket means.
 18. The file portfolio of claim 15 wherein the file pocket means is expandable.
 19. The file portfolio of claim 15 wherein the file pocket means expands a first amount adjacent the spine and a larger second amount further from the spine.
 20. The file portfolio of claim 15 wherein the file pocket means is formed from a single sheet of material. 